SINGAPORE, Dec 28 – Singapore has activated its Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) and has offered help to Indonesian authorities in the search and rescue mission following the disappearance of Indonesian AirAsia aircraft, QZ8501. RCC is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and supported by various agencies, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
In a statement, CAAS said the aircraft was scheduled to arrive at 0830 hours local time from Surabaya, but lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 0724 hours local time today. It said Singapore air traffic control was informed of this loss of contact at 0754 hours by Jakarta air traffic control.
The aircraft was in the Indonesian Flight Information Region (FIR) when contact was lost, more than 200 nautical miles southeast of the Singapore-Jakarta FIR boundary. SAAS said search and rescue operations have been activated by the Indonesian authorities from the Pangkal Pinang Search and Rescue office.
The Singapore Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and supported by various agencies, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), has also been activated and has offered help to the Indonesian authorities.
“Two C130s are already on stand-by for this purpose. We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue effort,” CAAS said in a statement. The CAAS and Changi Airport Group (CAG) Crisis Management Centres have already been activated. “We are working with the airline’s crisis management team,” it said.
In a separate statement, Changi Airport Group said, it has set up a Relatives’ Holding Area (RHA) at Terminal 2, to provide assistance to next-of-kin (NOK) of passengers onboard the flight. NOKs are advised to go to the information counter located in the middle of Terminal 2 Arrival Hall (Level 1). Updates will be provided at the RHA to NOKs as and when available. NOKs can contact Indonesia AirAsia at +62 (21) 2985 0801 for more information.
